Tipping Structural

We recently celebrated the of the Bancroft–Fulton Student Housing at University of California, Berkeley. The new high-rise is set to become the tallest university-owned residential building on UC Berkeley's campus — delivering 1,625 new beds and a 500-seat dining hall. Wrapped in glass-fiber-reinforced concrete panels and floor-to-ceiling glazing, the 23-story tower sits atop a granite-clad podium grounded within its urban context. Targeting LEED Platinum, the 430,000 SF building incorporates many sustainable measures including the integration of low-cement concrete in the building’s structure. Congratulations to the project team on this exciting milestone!

https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/03/12/the-wire-uc-berkeley-dorm-downtown-23-stories-construction

Architecture: KieranTimberlake
Developer: UC Berkeley Capital Strategies
Contractor: Clark Construction Group
Structural: Tipping

Tipping team: Marc Steyer, Abby Enscoe, Itria Licitra, Alec Zavala, PE, Ginevra Rojahn, and Shelly Cheng-Hsuan Hsu

Photos are from the groundbreaking event; Rendering by KieranTimberlake.

This week, Tipping Associates Joy Wei, Project Director, and Cheryl Norton, Director of Marketing & Business Development, are joining peers from across the region at the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) Pacific 2026 Regional Conference at Arizona State University, May 27–29. We’re looking forward to insightful sessions, reconnecting with colleagues and friends, and exploring this year’s theme, — turning challenges into oases of innovation. See you in Tempe at !

https://www.scup.org/conferences-programs/pacific-2026-regional-conference-2/

We're pleased to share the Balloon-Framed Rocking CLT Shear Wall System received an Award of Merit from the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC)'s 2026 Structural Engineering Excellence (SEE) Awards in the category of Study/Research/Guidelines – congratulations to the team!

This research develops a balloon-framed rocking CLT shear wall system to replace concrete and steel seismic force-resisting systems in tall mass timber buildings. Current North American codes are limited to platform-framed CLT configurations that are damage-prone, have limited ductility, and require numerous small panels — making them impractical for taller structures in high-seismic zones. The proposed system uses vertically oriented continuous, full-width CLT panels with rocking and pivoting mechanisms connected with yielding shear fuses for energy dissipation.

Analytical models of a two-story assembly establish relationships between global structural behavior and component geometry and mechanical properties. Nonlinear numerical models of two-, six-, and twelve-story archetypes validate these predictions through monotonic pushover analyses, confirming system ductility and integrity. This work provides the analytical and experimental foundation for future dynamic analyses and large-scale testing.

https://tippingstructural.com/research/?researchid=1670

Research Team
Leo Panian, SE, Principal; Mike Korolyk, SE, Principal - Tipping
Fei Tong, PhD, PEng, Assistant Professor (Principal Investigator); Thomas Tannert, PhD, PEng, Professor, Wood Engineering, Canada Research Chair, Tall Wood and Hybrid Structures Engineering; Orhan Sahutoglu, PhD Candidate, Chenhui Qian, Postdoctoral Fellow - University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)

Imagery: CSI America Inc (ceremony) and Tipping (award)

New to our website, check out Storehouse Lofts — an of a WWII-era military warehouse transformed into a residential building with 198 live-work lofts and two restaurants.

https://tippingstructural.com/projects/storehouse-lofts/

Naval Air Station Alameda Historic District Building 8, also known as the General Storehouse, was used for heavy material storage until the air station closed in the late 1990s. Twenty-five years later, the mixed-use facility now contributes to the of Alameda Point by housing hundreds of new tenants and demonstrating the potential of other underused and historically significant buildings in the area. This 302,500-square-foot project shows how a creative, analysis-driven structural engineering approach can unlock the latent capacity of a historic building to deliver much-needed in the Bay Area.

Architect: Wong Logan Architects

Developer & Contractor: Alameda Point Redevelopers

Structural: Tipping (Marc Steyer, Isaac Williams, SE)

Nat’l Historic Registry no. 12001191

Imagery: Wong Logan Architects, Maurice Ramirez

Next week, Tipping’s Leo Panian, Cheryl Norton, and Bruce Danziger are attending the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Western Pacific Regional 2026 Education Summit & Awards in Scottsdale, AZ. The summit is taking place May 17-20 at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. Experienced in project delivery, we at Tipping look forward to seeing you!

Big thanks to Mateo Arias Luna as he wraps up his at Tipping today! As the recipient of the 2025 Steven B. Tipping Memorial Scholarship for Innovation and Excellence in Structural Engineering, Mateo brought curiosity, talent, and dedication to the team and the projects that he worked on.

"My experience at Tipping has allowed me to transfer academia into real world practice. Through working on projects, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of engineering judgment, structural detailing, and the importance of clear communication within a design team. One of the things I’ve enjoyed most during my internship has been seeing how engineering decisions at Tipping balance between structural efficiency, innovation, environmental impacts and coordination. Working under the mentorship of welcoming engineers made this internship both memorable and exciting, strengthening my passion for structural engineering. I want to give a huge thank you to Marc Steyer for this amazing opportunity, as well as all the Tipping engineers for sharing their knowledge throughout my internship," says Mateo Arias Luna .

This month, Mateo is graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley where he is also returning this fall to pursue a Master of Science in Structural Engineering, Mechanics, and Materials. We’re grateful for his contributions and excited to see what’s ahead!

The is made possible through a partnership with NCSEA Diversity in Structural Engineering Scholarship Program, the Tipping family, and Tipping.

https://www.ncsea.com/foundation/people/diversity-scholarships/2025-diversity-in-se-scholarship-recipients/

Tipping is seeking an experienced senior marketing coordinator to join our 38-person structural engineering firm. This nonexempt position will report directly to our director of marketing and business development, and provide critical support to our business development principal. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in AEC (Architecture/Engineering/Construction) marketing and be familiar with SMPS best practices.

To learn more about the position and apply, visit: https://apply.tippingstructural.com/apply/openPositions.php

Earlier this April, Tipping Principal Mike Korolyk was invited by Khalid Mosalam, Professor at University of California, Berkeley, to deliver a guest lecture at CE221 on the topic of ‘Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis in Practice.’

"It was my honor and delight to present to the class of engineering students in CE 221 at UC Berkeley; it brought back memories of a time when I was in their place, and absorbing the curriculum felt like drinking from a fire hose! I appreciated their interest and participation and look forward to future opportunities to share what I've learned in practice,” says Mike.

Tipping is looking for a sharp, highly organized Executive Assistant & Office Coordinator to join our team, full time and on site. This is a role for someone who genuinely thrives on complexity -- who gets satisfaction from keeping multiple people and work streams organized, and who takes pride in the quality of everything that leaves their hands.

The work ranges widely, from supporting the CEO with client correspondence and fee proposals, to managing the day-to-day life of the office -- vendors, facilities, supplies, onboarding, events. You'll be a central, trusted presence in the firm, and the kind of person everyone is glad to have around.

To learn more about the position and apply, visit: https://apply.tippingstructural.com/apply/openPositions.php

We are seeking an experienced senior marketing coordinator to join our 35-person structural engineering firm. This nonexempt position will report directly to our director of marketing and business development, and provide critical support to our business development principal. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in AEC marketing and be familiar with SMPS best practices. To learn more about the position and apply, visit:
https://apply.tippingstructural.com/apply/openPositions.php